Kinsale’s Le Bistro is well worth le détour

 Kinsale’s Le Bistro is well worth le détour

Dining out

From the outside, it resembles a bistro that you see in any small town in France. Well, the sunshine was extra generous that day, with the colours of the frontage and the flowers catching the eye (the floral arrangement by @daisychainkinsale is just perfect). We are not in France, but in the middle of the Irish seaside town of Kinsale, looking straight ahead at Le Bistro. Parking is available just outside, but we soon realise that it’s also the police station, and these spots are reserved. We soon find a nearby parking lot.

Chicken burger, in Blaa

The welcome in the bistro is warm and friendly. We are taken to our table, which features comfortable chairs and a small vase of flowers on top, along with cutlery, condiments, and paper napkins.  The menu is soon delivered and we see a good choice between sandwiches and hot dishes. Having driven down, we had to forego the wine (a short list, but it covers most of the popular grapes) and opted for the water instead.

Desserts

No shortage of tempting sandwiches in Le Bistro. Cajun Chicken and smoky bacon feature in the Chicken and Bacon. Home-baked and glazed ham shine in the Ham & Cheese Toastie. Slow-cooked brisket is the mainstay of their Beef Sandwich. They also offer a Pork Belly Ciabatta and a Rustic Char-grilled Chicken Wrap. The Vegan Wrap consists of homemade hummus, red onion marmalade, jalapenos, tomato, lettuce, and vegan cheddar. 

We had been told that the special for the day was Quiche (10.95) with black pudding and caramelised onion, salad, and French fries, and that was CL’s choice, which proved to be a good one.

Quiche

My pick was the Rustic Chargrilled Chicken Burger (€16.95), served with tomato, lettuce, cheese, and homemade tzatziki sauce on a toasted Waterford blaa, accompanied by French fries.  It was my third blaa in about ten days, and I would certainly like to see it used more often, as it is nice and soft, compared to those toasted sourdough doorsteps that are so beloved by some cafés. Recent dishes include Pasta Salad with grilled Halloumi and Caesar Salad with Chicken.

At that point, we realised Le Bistro has an outdoor area and we moved there for dessert. It is located at the end of the oblong restaurant space, and we were guided there, then upstairs, and into the sunlight. The kitchen is also located here. Le Bistro, by the way, is located in the building that previously housed Carole Norman’s Crackpots Encore (and also the Supper Club).

Sandycove, Kinsale

As you enter the restaurant, the colourful display of the day’s cakes catches your eye. The temptation lingers and is reinforced when you leave the table to choose! To accompany the excellent coffee, you can choose from Carrot Cake, Caramel Slice, Apple Crumble, Rocky Road, Brownie, and Apple Sponge (from €3.50 to €5.95). My tip is the Carrot Cake, a terrific example, and the lighter Apple Sponge is pretty good as well.

Emily Furey and chef Regis Herviaux are the friendly and efficient couple behind Le Bistro; they also run Kelly’s Coffee shop in Mountbellew, Co. Galway.

Kinsale's Farmers Market (every Wednesday)